A memory card adapter is disclosed to include a connecting substrate with metal contacts, a multi-in-one memory card connector bonded to the connecting substrate for receiving one of a set of memory cards, a connecting terminal set, which has a plurality of metal terminals mounted in an electrically insulative terminal holder block with a rear bonding end of each metal terminal respectively bonded to the metal contacts of the connecting substrate and a front bonding ends for bonding to a PC board, a PC board, which has an electric connector at one end for connection to a notebook computer or the like and a plurality of metal contacts respectively bonded to the front bonding ends of the metal terminals of the connecting terminal set, and an electrically insulative housing, which has a rectangular frame that accommodates the connecting substrate and the PC board and two cover shells respectively covered on top and bottom sides of the rectangular frame over the connecting substrate and the PC board.
|
1. A memory card adapter comprising:
a connecting substrate, said connecting substrate having a plurality of metal contacts;
a multi-in-one memory card connector bonded to said connecting substrate for receiving one of a set of memory cards;
a connecting terminal set, said connecting terminal set comprising an electrically insulative terminal holder block and a plurality of metal terminals mounted in said electrically insulative terminal holder block, the metal terminals of said connecting terminal set each having a rear bonding end respectively bonded to the metal contacts of said connecting substrate and a front bonding end for bonding to a printed circuit board;
a printed circuit board, said printed circuit board comprising an electric connector disposed at one end thereof for connection to an external electronic apparatus, and a plurality of metal contacts respectively bonded to the front bonding ends of the metal terminals of said connecting terminal set; and
an electrically insulative housing, said electrically insulative housing comprising a rectangular frame and two cover shells, said rectangular frame defining two accommodation spaces that accommodate said connecting substrate and said printed circuit board to have said memory card connector and the electric connector of said printed circuit board respectively partially protrude over two opposite ends of said electrically insulative housing.
2. The memory card adapter as claimed in
3. The memory card adapter as claimed in
4. The memory card adapter as claimed in
5. The memory card adapter as claimed in
6. The memory card adapter as claimed in
|
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card adapter and more particularly, to such an improved structure of memory card adapter for express card slot of a notebook computer.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional memory card adapter for express card slot is known comprised of a multi-in-one memory card slot, a PC board, a connecting port, and an electrically insulative housing. Due to the limitation of the express card thickness to be within 5 mm, an elevation difference exists between the multi-in-one memory card slot and the connecting port at the PC board. To overcome this elevation difference, the electric connection between the multi-in-one memory card slot and the PC board is achieved by means of arranging curved metal terminals in the multi-in-one memory card slot and soldering the curved metal terminals to respective metal contacts at the PC board. However, it is difficult to accurately arrange the curved metal terminals in a limited space within a limited height inside the multi-in-one memory card slot. A small positioning error of the curved metal terminals in the multi-in-one memory card slot will result in an electric connection error. In consequence, the processing and installation of the curved metal terminals are complicated, resulting in a high manufacturing cost of the memory card adapter.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a memory card adapter that eliminates the aforesaid problems.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the memory card adapter is comprised of a connecting substrate, a memory card connector, a connecting terminal set, a PC board, and an electrically insulative housing, wherein the connecting substrate and the connecting terminal set constitute a bridge to electrically connect the memory card connector and the PC board, thereby simplifying the installation of metal terminals and achieving the effects of increasing the yield rate and lowering the cost. According to another aspect of the present invention, the electrically insulative housing has a rectangular frame with two locating holes and two cove shells covered on the top and bottom sides of the rectangular frame, and the PC board has an electric connector, which has two locating blocks respectively engaged into the locating holes of the rectangular frame of the electrically insulative housing to secure the printed circuit board to the rectangular frame of the electrically insulative housing.
Referring to
Referring to
The connecting terminal set 3 comprises an electrically insulative terminal holder block 31 and a plurality of metal terminals 32 mounted in the electrically insulative terminal holder block 31. The metal terminals 32 each have a rear bonding end 321 and a front bonding end 322. The rear bonding ends 321 of the metal terminals 32 are respectively soldered to the metal contacts 13 of the connecting substrate 1. The front bonding ends 322 are respectively soldered to respective metal contacts 42 of the PC board 4.
Referring to
Referring to
As stated above, the memory card connector 2 is mounted on the connecting substrate 1 over the window opening 11 with the bonding ends 221 and 222 of the metal terminals 22 thereof respectively soldered to the metal contacts 12 of the connecting substrate 1; the connecting substrate 1 with the memory card connector 2 are mounted in the accommodation space 511 of the rectangular frame 51; the PC board 4 with the electric connector 41 are mounted in the accommodation space 512 of the rectangular frame 51. Further, electric connection between the connecting substrate 1 and the PC board 4 is achieved by soldering the rear bonding ends 321 and front bonding ends 322 of the metal terminals 32 to the metal contacts 13 of the connecting substrate 1 and the metal contacts 42 of the PC board 4 respectively. Thus, the connecting substrate 1 and the connecting terminal set 3 constitute a bridge to electrically connect the memory card connector 2 and the PC board 4 together, thereby eliminating the elevational difference and circuit layout problems. The memory card adapter thus made is connectable to a notebook computer or the like to receive one of a set of memory cards including MS (Memory Stick), XD (Extreme Digital), MMC (MultiMedia Card), and SD (SecureDigital Memory Card) for data access.
Referring to
A prototype of memory card adapter has been constructed with the features of
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Yen, Ming Hui, Chu, Chien Hsun
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10283161, | May 30 2017 | Meta Platforms, Inc | Storage card adapter |
7686654, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Memory card for an ExpressCard slot |
7699660, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Adapter for an expresscard slot |
7762849, | Jan 05 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Expandable and collapsible peripheral device |
7779184, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Method of using the dual bus interface in an expresscard slot |
7780477, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Adapter system for use with an expresscard slot |
7798840, | Jan 05 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Expandable and collapsible peripheral device |
7859850, | Dec 26 2008 | D&C Technology Co., Ltd.; D&C TECHNOLOGY CO , LTD | Electronic card and expansion card combination |
8051229, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Dual bus ExpressCard peripheral device |
8092257, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Memory card for an expresscard slot |
8550858, | Apr 07 2010 | Apple Inc.; Apple Inc | Extensible memory card-compatible receptacle and port expansion device |
8561295, | Jun 29 2007 | SanDisk Technologies LLC | Method of adapting an expresscard slot for smaller form factor memory compatibility |
D607885, | May 17 2007 | Kyocera Corporation | PC card adapter |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
6219256, | Oct 21 1997 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. | Card adapter interfacing between a card connector and a memory card |
6276944, | Jun 29 1998 | Stocko Contact GmbH & Co. KG | Contacting unit for a card-shaped carrier element of electronic modules, especially according with PCMCIA standards |
6561851, | Apr 27 2001 | NETGEAR, Inc | Module interface for PC card |
6574112, | Jan 24 2000 | J. S. T. Mfg. Co., Ltd. | Card connecting adapter and IC card with antenna |
6932623, | Oct 21 2003 | Tai-Sol Electronics Co., Ltd. | Card adapter |
7059910, | Mar 11 2005 | Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., LTD | Multi-function card connector with defend mechanism |
7121846, | Apr 14 2004 | Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited | Card-like electronic device which can readily be disassembled |
20050148245, | |||
20060223376, | |||
20060223377, |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Aug 31 2006 | YEN, MING-HUI | CHANT SINCERE CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 018321 | /0658 | |
Aug 31 2006 | CHU, CHIEN-HSUN | CHANT SINCERE CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 018321 | /0658 | |
Sep 18 2006 | Chant Sincere Co., Ltd. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Aug 31 2011 | M2551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Yr, Small Entity. |
Oct 23 2015 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Mar 11 2016 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Mar 11 2011 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Sep 11 2011 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 11 2012 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Mar 11 2014 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Mar 11 2015 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Sep 11 2015 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 11 2016 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Mar 11 2018 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Mar 11 2019 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Sep 11 2019 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Mar 11 2020 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Mar 11 2022 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |